Pesquisa de hipotiroidismo congénito: resultados de dieciocho años de trabajo ininterrumpido en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

Abstract

To assess the occurrence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), 37 750 newborns were evaluated at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires and its affiliated hospital in San Justo between 1989 and 2007. Determination of thyrotropin by radioimmunoassay allowed for the detection of 25 newborns with CH of whom 10 were definitive, 2 transient and 13 without confirmation at the current time. The prevalence of definitive CH was 1/3775 newborns, being thyroid dysgenesis the most common cause of the disease. A continuous adjustment of TSH threshold values resulted in a decrease of false positive cases with a consequent reduction of 91.3% on office visits for follow-up during this period. We remark on the importance of an early detection of CH so that treatment can be initiated to prevent mental and neurological retardation associated with the disease